Emperor of Central Africa
Encyclopedia
The Emperor of Central Africa (French
: Empereur de l'Afrique Centrale)
was the autocratic
ruler of the Central African Empire
from 1976 to 1979. After President Jean-Bédel Bokassa
who was considered a tyrannical dictator by the Central African people, proclaimed himself Emperor Bokassa I on 4 December 1976, and was crowned emperor on 4 December 1977 in a lavish coronation ceremony that was estimated to cost his country roughly $20 million US dollars.
Bokassa I attempted to justify his actions by claiming that creating a monarchy would help Central Africa "stand out" from the rest of the continent, and earn the world's respect. The coronation consumed one third of the nation's annual budget and all of the French aid that year, but despite generous invitations, no foreign leaders attended the event. Many thought Bokassa was insane, and compared his egotistical extravagance with that of Africa's other well-known eccentric dictator, Idi Amin
.
.
Bokassa the First, Emperor
of Central Africa
by the will of the Central African people, united within the national political party, the MESAN
.
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
: Empereur de l'Afrique Centrale)
was the autocratic
Autocracy
An autocracy is a form of government in which one person is the supreme power within the state. It is derived from the Greek : and , and may be translated as "one who rules by himself". It is distinct from oligarchy and democracy...
ruler of the Central African Empire
Central African Empire
The Central African Empire was a short-lived, self-declared autocratic monarchy that replaced the Central African Republic and was, in turn, replaced by the restoration of the republic. The empire was formed when Jean-Bédel Bokassa, President of the republic, declared himself Emperor Bokassa I on...
from 1976 to 1979. After President Jean-Bédel Bokassa
Jean-Bédel Bokassa
Jean-Bédel Bokassa , a military officer, was the head of state of the Central African Republic and its successor state, the Central African Empire, from his coup d'état on 1 January 1966 until 20 September 1979...
who was considered a tyrannical dictator by the Central African people, proclaimed himself Emperor Bokassa I on 4 December 1976, and was crowned emperor on 4 December 1977 in a lavish coronation ceremony that was estimated to cost his country roughly $20 million US dollars.
Bokassa I attempted to justify his actions by claiming that creating a monarchy would help Central Africa "stand out" from the rest of the continent, and earn the world's respect. The coronation consumed one third of the nation's annual budget and all of the French aid that year, but despite generous invitations, no foreign leaders attended the event. Many thought Bokassa was insane, and compared his egotistical extravagance with that of Africa's other well-known eccentric dictator, Idi Amin
Idi Amin
Idi Amin Dada was a military leader and President of Uganda from 1971 to 1979. Amin joined the British colonial regiment, the King's African Rifles in 1946. Eventually he held the rank of Major General in the post-colonial Ugandan Army and became its Commander before seizing power in the military...
.
Full titles
The Emperor of Central Africa had a various list of titles and claims that reflected the geographic expanse and diversity of the lands ruled by the House of BokassaHouse of Bokassa
The House of Bokassa claims to be an African Noble and Imperial House. Its founder ruled as Emperor over the territories of the Central African Empire from 4 December 1976, until he was overthrown on 21 September 1979.- Establishment and ruling history :...
.
Bokassa I
His Imperial MajestyImperial Majesty (style)
Imperial Majesty is a style used by Emperors and Empresses. The style is used to distinguish the status of an emperor/empress from that of a king/queen, who are simply styled Majesty or Royal Majesty...
Bokassa the First, Emperor
Emperor
An emperor is a monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife or a woman who rules in her own right...
of Central Africa
Central African Empire
The Central African Empire was a short-lived, self-declared autocratic monarchy that replaced the Central African Republic and was, in turn, replaced by the restoration of the republic. The empire was formed when Jean-Bédel Bokassa, President of the republic, declared himself Emperor Bokassa I on...
by the will of the Central African people, united within the national political party, the MESAN
MESAN
The Mouvement pour l'évolution sociale de l'Afrique noire was a nationalist quasi-religious political party that sought to affirm black humanity and advocated for the independence of Ubangi-Shari, then a French colonial territory...
.
Emperor of Central Africa (1976–1979)
| Portrait | Name | Emperor From | Emperor Until | Relationship with Predecessor(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bokassa I Jean-Bédel Bokassa Jean-Bédel Bokassa , a military officer, was the head of state of the Central African Republic and its successor state, the Central African Empire, from his coup d'état on 1 January 1966 until 20 September 1979... |
4 December 1976 | 21 September 1979 | – | |
Pretenders to the Throne of Central Africa (1979–Present)
| Portrait | Name | Pretender From | Pretender Until | Relationship with Predecessor(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bokassa I Jean-Bédel Bokassa Jean-Bédel Bokassa , a military officer, was the head of state of the Central African Republic and its successor state, the Central African Empire, from his coup d'état on 1 January 1966 until 20 September 1979... |
21 September 1979 | 3 November 1996 | – | |
| Jean-Bédel Bokassa II | 3 November 1996 | Present | Son of Bokassa I, and current head of the House of Bokassa House of Bokassa The House of Bokassa claims to be an African Noble and Imperial House. Its founder ruled as Emperor over the territories of the Central African Empire from 4 December 1976, until he was overthrown on 21 September 1979.- Establishment and ruling history :... . |
|